Podalyria myrtillifolia bearing hairy fruit

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Description

Podalyria myrtillifolia or commonly the purple butterfly is a shrub that grows to 2 m. It has simple, alternate leaves that are ovate to obovate in shape. The leaves are covered in silky hairs on both surfaces.

The pink flowers with a little white in the centre, shaped like those of peas are subtended by lanceolate bracts. Flowers are about 1,3 cm long. Flowering happens in winter and early spring.

The long-haired, bulging fruit pods contrast against the leaves that have short hairs (Manning, 2007).